Extraordinary maintenance work carried out on the arch of Titus in Rome

摘要

The Arch of Titus on the Palatine is known to us today in the form defined by Valadier in about 1830. It stands as the classic example of the philosophy of restoration that prevailed in Rome in the first part of the 19th century, in the hands of Stern and subsequently Valadier. It is thus not only one of the outstanding examples of a Roman triumphal arch but also a milestone in the history of restoration. The maintenance work carried out recently had to fulfil two objectives: consolidation and cleansing of the stonework, especially in the oldest parts, and an assessment of the monument's static condition, both overall and in those points in which crumbling and cracks pointed to possible problems. In particular lesions to a column and in some blocks of travertine added during restoration in the 19th century raised the possibility of damage to the inner core of the stonework.